Ohio U.S. Senate candidates Tim Ryan and J.D. Vance meet for their first debate tonight.
They debate tonight at 7pm at the WJW-TV studios in Cleveland. The debate will be shown in Columbus on NBC 4. The two candidates debate again next week in Youngstown.
Polls show the U.S. Senate candidates are essentially tied in their race to replace Rob Portman.
Vance turned down another debate invitation from the Ohio Debate Commission because of what the Ohio GOP calls bias against Republicans. Those claims are largely based on fact-checking done in Republican primary debates.
Ryan has served the Youngtown area in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003.
Vance is running for office for the first time. The Middletown native worked as venture capitalist and is author of the best-selling “Hillbilly Elegy” memoir.
